West Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP)Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention1513-736819720180701Toxoplasmosis an Overlooked Disease: Seroprevalence in Cancer Patients198719916536410.22034/APJCP.2018.19.7.1987ENRaafat Abdel-MalekClinical Oncology Department, Kasr Al-Ainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.0000-0001-9701-7543Rita WassefDepartment of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Helwan University, Egypt.0000-0002-8431-2428Enas RizkDepartment of Medical Parasitology, Kasr Al-Ainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.Hoda SabryDepartment of Medical Parasitology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Egypt.Nevine TadrosDepartment of Medical Parasitology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Egypt.Abdallah BoghdadyDepartment of Medical Parasitology, Kasr Al-Ainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.Journal Article20180309Background: Toxoplasmosis is one of the most important cosmopolitan life-threatening diseases in immunecompromisedpatients. It is caused by an intracellular protozoon: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). The parasite can causepneumonia, encephalitis or disseminated disease in immune-deficient patients and dangerous congenital anomaliesin infants born to mothers infected during early pregnancies. The present study aims to evaluate the prevalence oftoxoplasmosis in Egyptian cancer patients and to correlate the prevalence with type of malignancy and the differentcancer treatment modalities. Materials and Methods: Blood samples from 150 cancer patients and 50 control subjectshave been examined for presence of anti-toxoplasma antibodies using a lateral flow chromatographic immunoassay.Results: Among cancer patients included in this study, the prevalence of anti- T.gondii antibodies was 20% for IgGand 4% for IgM, while in the control group it was 8% and 2% in the same order. This difference was statisticallysignificant for IgG (P =0.003) but not for IgM (P = 0.44). Patients with solid organ tumors treated with chemotherapyhad the highest prevalence rate of toxoplasmosis (28%). It was also found higher in males (26%) than females (10%)and higher among urban (18%) than rural dwellers (16%). Conclusion: Cancer patients showed a significantly higherrate of infection with T. gondii than their cross-matched control. For that reason, we recommend the inclusion of ascreening test for toxoplasmosis in their routine workup.
cancer
chemotherapy
Prevalence
Radiation
Toxoplasma gondii
http://journal.waocp.org/article_65364_17091e779d409855fa486ca2b0f41018.pdf